Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon

[fmingo36]

@Jonathan Tremaine - list of characters from last year's race. They aren't guaranteed to be the same year after year but this should give you an idea:

- Country Bears during the first mile
- Ostrich and Hippo from Fantasia between Mile Marker 2 (MM2) and MM3
- Rafiki after MM3 (just before entering Animal Kingdom)
- Baloo just after entering Animal Kingdom
- Timon just before MM4
- King Louie after MM4
- Pluto after MM4
- Pirates of the Caribbean set-up (ship with pirates - I think Jack Sparrow and Barbosa were in there) just before MM5
- Character puppets just before MM6 (Tigger, Sebastian, Genie and Lumiere)
- Sarge after MM7
- Lilo and Stitch after MM8
- Woody & Buzz after MM9 (they were in Pixar Place)
- Mr. & Mrs. Incredible after MM9 (backstage at the Studios)
- Wreck-it Ralph after MM9 (backstage at the Studios)
- The Osborne Lights...not a character obviously, but my favorite part of the race!
- Darth Vader and Boba Fett after the lights (just before MM11)
- Minnie in apron and Chef Mickey at the finish line (CMs won't take pictures of you with them anymore but you can have another runner do it for you)

Hey, not bad! That's more than I thought for this race!

Great list! Do you remember any characters from the afterparty?

 

[FerretAfros]

Great list! Do you remember any characters from the afterparty?

Mary Poppins & Bert were trading off sets with 2 penguins by International Gateway, and I think Daisy was wearing her Norwegian dress next to the Stave Church. I think there were a handful of others (especially by the UK/International Gateway) but I can't remember what they were

 

[Ariel484]

Great list! Do you remember any characters from the afterparty?

I didn't make it to the after-party, unfortunately...I was (stupidly) running with an injury and barely made it to the finish line. Hoping to change that this year!

In the past I've seen pictures of characters at the Character Spot wearing aprons/chef gear.

Mary Poppins & Bert were trading off sets with 2 penguins by International Gateway, and I think Daisy was wearing her Norwegian dress next to the Stave Church. I think there were a handful of others (especially by the UK/International Gateway) but I can't remember what they were

I saw Daisy in her Norway dress during the WDW 5K in 2013 and passed her up because her line was so huge. I've sort of regretted that one ever since...hopefully she'll be at the party this year!

 

[a2grafix]

Great list! Do you remember any characters from the afterparty?

Donald in his Mexican "3 Caballeros" outfit was hanging out at his usual spot during the afterparty. Unsure if Panchito or Jose Carioca were taking turns with Donald as it took me a long time to just relax and leisurely walk through World Showcase noshing on FREE food ($25 gift card included part of race entry) and plenty of beer.

Coolest part before the race was to meet Chef Goofy. His line was not as long as Chefs Mickey, Minnie, Chip or Dale, but long enough to pass the time before entering the corrals.

 

[a2grafix]

Darth Vader and Boba Fett were last year. You may be thinking of the Tower of Terror 10-miler.

Yup. Too long of a line for me. Cool, tho.

 

[Ariel484]

Donald in his Mexican "3 Caballeros" outfit was hanging out at his usual spot during the afterparty. Unsure if Panchito or Jose Carioca were taking turns with Donald as it took me a long time to just relax and leisurely walk through World Showcase noshing on FREE food ($25 gift card included part of race entry) and plenty of beer.

Was it $25? I thought it was $10...this year's information says $10.

 

[DancerJonathan]

@Jonathan Tremaine - list of characters from last year's race. They aren't guaranteed to be the same year after year but this should give you an idea:

- Country Bears during the first mile
- Ostrich and Hippo from Fantasia between Mile Marker 2 (MM2) and MM3
- Rafiki after MM3 (just before entering Animal Kingdom)
- Baloo just after entering Animal Kingdom
- Timon just before MM4
- King Louie after MM4
- Pluto after MM4
- Pirates of the Caribbean set-up (ship with pirates - I think Jack Sparrow and Barbosa were in there) just before MM5
- Character puppets just before MM6 (Tigger, Sebastian, Genie and Lumiere)
- Sarge after MM7
- Lilo and Stitch after MM8
- Woody & Buzz after MM9 (they were in Pixar Place)
- Mr. & Mrs. Incredible after MM9 (backstage at the Studios)
- Wreck-it Ralph after MM9 (backstage at the Studios)
- The Osborne Lights...not a character obviously, but my favorite part of the race!
- Darth Vader and Boba Fett after the lights (just before MM11)
- Minnie in apron and Chef Mickey at the finish line (CMs won't take pictures of you with them anymore but you can have another runner do it for you)

Hey, not bad! That's more than I thought for this race!

Maybe the Tower of Terror 10 miller is the one I'm thinking about. Thank you for this character information.

 

[a2grafix]

Was it $25? I thought it was $10...this year's information says $10.

Hmmm, maybe it was $20, or $15. I do know it was just enough to taste some food samples. I think I was able to taste at least 3 dishes before the card ran out.

 

[fmingo36]

I think Daisy was wearing her Norwegian dress next to the Stave Church. I think there were a handful of others (especially by the UK/International Gateway) but I can't remember what they were

This is what I love about these races. You get to see characters in unique outfits!

 

[Texas84]

Don't forget your Wine & Dine cross training:

(Only after a long run)

 

[Ariel484]

@Texas84 - somewhat related, I present the shirt I will be wearing for Wine & Dine

 

[plaz10]

@Texas84 - somewhat related, I present the shirt I will be wearing for Wine & Dine
View attachment 62146

So weird...me too!!!

 

[Ariel484]

So weird...me too!!!

No way!! #greatminds

 

[Texas84]

@Texas84 - somewhat related, I present the shirt I will be wearing for Wine & Dine
View attachment 62146

Then you are the sign for the meet and greet

 

[anthonymgm1999]

Does anyone know which characters are on course for the Jingle Jungle 5K?

 

[FerretAfros]

Does anyone know which characters are on course for the Jingle Jungle 5K?

Here are ones that I got photos of from last year's race:
- Mickey & Minnie in their Jammin' Jungle costumes (with a crazy long line) in the parking lot before the race. There were also some other Christmas-ey backdrops and possibly other Fab 5 characters there
- Baloo in the Oasis
- Terk in Africa
- Chip & Dale coming out of their dressing room behind Dinoland
- Donald with Jingle Jungle costume & float near retention basin
- Pluto behind Everest/at turn-around point

I also vaguely remember seeing King Louie near Baloo and Timon and Rafiki in Africa, though I might be confusing those with the Half that night or various times through the park during the January Marathon

 

[Ariel484]

@FerretAfros - you're right, King Louie was before Chip & Dale. I don't remember Rafiki being on the 5K course but I could be wrong. I agree with your list otherwise.

@anthonymgm1999 - here's a link to my report from last year's JJ5K if you're interested. The JJ5K part starts about 1/3 of the way down the page: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...-2-marathon-weekend-trip-report.876932/page-2

 

[HRHPrincessAriel]

Can you access the EPCOT lockers after the race? I think we may skip the whole bag check thing. We have a non runner friend that's coming with us now so we could also sweet talk her into bringing a backpack for us.

 

[FerretAfros]

Can you access the EPCOT lockers after the race? I think we may skip the whole bag check thing. We have a non runner friend that's coming with us now so we could also sweet talk her into bringing a backpack for us.

Yes, the in-park lockers are available after the race, and I've read reports from other people who have said they've used them in the past. Of course, there's a chance that they would clear the lockers after park closing, but since it's a soft close (After Party guests are allowed in while day guests are still there), it seems unlikely

Personally, I'd just use the bag drop. It was really easy to use and there were no waits for me before or after the race. Plus they have the big changing tents, which are less awkward IMO than trying to change in a stall even if you're just in there with lots of other people. I saw really long lines of people waiting to change at both sets of bathrooms by SSE, but the ones further into the park were empty

 

[Ariel484]

I agree with @FerretAfros that bag check is pretty easy. They have everything super organized - by the first letter of your last name, then by bib number. Pick-up was really quick for me last year. Also agree that the further you go into Epcot, the emptier the bathrooms are.

I'm not sure what I'll do with post-race stuff this year. I am pretty bad when it comes to over-packing and last year I tried to cram so much stuff into my gear check bag that I thought I was going to rip it, so I ended up taking out some of the stuff and giving it to my husband to bring with him to the after-party. This was nice because neither of us had to carry much and I could give him any valuables (you aren't supposed to check valuables or liquids). He won't be coming on the trip this year so I'll have to figure out something else.